A GMO, or Genetically Modified Organism, is a plant, animal, microorganism or other organism whose genetic makeup has been modified using recombinant DNA methods (also called gene splicing), gene modification or transgenic technology. This relatively new science creates unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and viral genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods.

Genetic Modification affects many of the products we consume on a daily basis.

As the number of GMOs available for commercial use grows every year, the Non-GMO Project works diligently to provide the most accurate, up-to-date standards for non-GMO verification.

In order for a product to be Non-GMO Project Verified, its inputs must be evaluated for compliance with our standard, which categorizes inputs into three risk levels:

Risk Level

Definition

Examples

High-Risk

The input is derived from, contains derivatives of, or is produced through a process involving organisms that are known to be genetically modified and commercially available.

The input is not derived from, does not contain derivatives of, or is not produced through a process involving organisms that are presently known to be genetically modified and commercially available.

Lentils, Spinach, Tomatoes, Sesame seeds, Avocados

Non-Risk

The input is not derived from biological organisms and not, therefore, susceptible to genetic modification.

Though there are only several GM crops that are widely available, they are commodity crops that often get further processed into a variety of ingredients. These high-risk ingredients are typically present in packaged products as:

Amino acids,

alcohol,

aspartame,

ascorbic acid,

sodium ascorbate,

citric acid,

sodium citrate,

ethanol, flavorings (“natural” and “artificial”),

high-fructose corn syrup,

hydrolyzed vegetable protein,

lactic acid,

maltodextrins,

molasses,

monosodium glutamate (MSG),

sucrose,

textured vegetable protein (TVP),

xanthan gum,

vitamins,

vinegar,

yeast products

The Non-GMO Project Standard considers animal-derived products such as meat, dairy, eggs and honey to be high risk due to the prevalence of GMOs in animal feed.

Cloned animals and their progeny are considered to be GMOs under the standard, as are the products of synthetic biology.

GMO Facts

What is a GMO?

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering. This creates combinations of plant, animal, bacteria, and virus genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods.

Most GMOs have been engineered to withstand the direct application of herbicide and/or to produce an insecticide.

However, new technologies are now being used to artificially develop other traits in plants,

such as a resistance to browning in apples, and

to create new organisms using synthetic biology.

Despite biotech industry promises, there is no evidence that any of the GMOs currently on the market offer increased yield, drought tolerance, enhanced nutrition, or any other consumer benefit.

Are GMOs Safe?

A growing body of evidence connects GMOs with health problems, environmental damage, and violation of farmers’ and consumers’ rights.

More than 60 countries around the world – including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union – require GMOs to be labeled.

Globally, there are also 300 regions with outright bans on growing GMOs.

In the absence of credible independent long-term feeding studies, the safety of GMOs is unknown. Increasingly, citizens are taking matters into their own hands and choosing to opt out of the GMO experiment.

Are GMOs labeled?

Sixty-four countries around the world, including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union, require genetically modified foods to be labeled.1

While a 2015 ABC News survey found that 93% of Americans believe Genetically Modified foods should be labeled, GMOs are not required to be labeled in the U.S. and Canada.2

In the absence of mandatory labeling, the Non-GMO Project was created to give consumers the informed choice they deserve.

Which Foods Might Contain GMOs?

Most packaged foods contain ingredients derived from

corn,

soy,

canola,

and sugar beet — and the vast majority of those crops grown in North America are genetically modified.3

Animal products:

The Non-GMO Project also considers livestock, apiculture, and aquaculture products at high risk because genetically engineered ingredients are common in animal feed. This impacts animal products such as: eggs, milk, meat, honey, and seafood.

Because GMOs are novel life forms, biotechnology companies have been able to obtain patents to control the use and distribution of their genetically engineered seeds. As a result, the companies that make GMOs now have the power to sue farmers whose fields have been contaminated with GMOs, even when it is the result of the drift of pollen from neighboring fields.4

Genetically Modified crops therefore pose a serious threat to farmer sovereignty and to the national food security of any country where they are grown.

What are the Impacts of GMOs on the Environment?

More than 80% of all genetically modified crops grown worldwide have been engineered for herbicide tolerance.5 As a result, the use of toxic herbicides, such as Roundup®, has increased fifteen fold since GMOs were first introduced.6

In March 2015, the World Health Organization determined that the herbicide glyphosate (the key ingredient in Roundup®) is “probably carcinogenic to humans.”

Genetically Modified crops also are responsible for the emergence of “superweeds”and “superbugs,” which can only be killed with ever more toxic poisons such as 2,4-D (a major ingredient in Agent Orange).7,8

Most GMOs are a direct extension of chemical agriculture and are developed and sold by the world’s largest chemical companies.

The long-term impacts of these GMOs are unknown.

Once released into the environment, these novel organisms cannot be recalled.

You may feel that it costs more, and in some circumstances it does, but the back end cost of the medical office visits, the prescription medications, the surgical interventions that will be waiting for you if you do not take this important step are so much more expensive.

Please know that choosing to eat these foods is affecting what is happening in our health.

By turning a blind eye to this legitimate concern the news media is not acknowledging as a problem does not mean you are not creating health concerns for you and your family.